and house speaker john boehner. >> reporter: if lawmakers want to settle this in time for christmas, negotiators need to kick it into high gear next week. they must reach an agreement by early next week at the latest. that's the only way that members will have enough time to read it, debate it, and vote on it in the house and senate before heading home for the holidays. in a now familiar routine, both sides blamed each other today for the slow pace of talks. the senate democratic leader harry reid. >> right now they are the only thing standing between congress and the compromise. >>> a spokesman said that in a statement, the respect offer made last week remains an offer as we continue to wait for the president to identify the spending cuts he's willing to make as a part of the balanced approach that he promised the american people. and the white house and the speaker office has not released a single detail about that meeting on sunday. they think that it's good news, a sign that will become serious just in time. cbs news, capitol hill. >>> two delivery men felt pretty lucky to be ali